On Sunday, an 8 year old girl of Grabouw passed away after being electrocuted. Criminals in the community have established illegal electricity connections, leading to this tragedy.
MPP Matlhodi Maseko says: “The young child was innocently playing in a grass area close to the illegal electric connections in Hillside, Grabouw. These connections are known to be extremely hazardous and with great sadness, we have witnessed the death of a child.”
The police and forensic investigators arrived on the scene shortly after the incident took place.
MPP Maseko comments: “Illegal connections are an extreme hazard to our communities, and especially to young children who unknowingly come into contact with electric cables and wires. These criminal acts lead to tragedies just like this, when our children should be safe in their neighbourhoods.
Illegal connections are poorly constructed and don’t have the necessary electrical protection around wiring and cables for homes. They also reduce the stability of electricity to neighbourhoods and in the long-term, contribute to power outages. In the past three years, electrical theft and vandalism has cost almost R200m – money which should rather be spent to keep us safely connected.
As Chairperson of the Human Settlements Committee in the Western Cape, I am monitoring this situation and will follow-up with the relevant authorities and police. We trust that a full investigation will take place, and that the police will look into those who set up the illegal electricity connections around our homes in the first place.
I appeal to communities to report any such incidences of these connections immediately either to the South African Police Services or to Eskom by sending an SMS to 32211 or calling 08600 37566.”
The DA in the Western Cape will continue to work for safe communities where our resident live in dignity and with opportunity.
